Building survey or no building survey...?

note3

Please don't jump on me...I was automatically going to get a full building survey but just as I started looking round for a surveyor some people have suggested it isn't necessary. House is ex council build from 50s/60s. Everyone says they're solidly built but realistically that doesn't mean they're without issue does it!?

Am I wrong in thinking most people get full surveys?

Cakeguts

Councils also built houses that were non standard construction that you can't get a mortgage on. You might want to know how this house is built.

note3

Would you know from outside? This is definitely a full brick outside and tiled roof as can see it all visually...?

n217970

A lot of people get home buyers surveys, and from my experience they are worthless. The house I sold a few months ago was a 50's ex council semi, and it is very solidly built.

The construction is a little strange, at least to me, as all of the walls upstairs were bricked up from the floorboards, rather then sitting on the supporting walls below.

One thing worth noting was that an amount of internal changes had been made before I bought it. No idea of time period, probably around late 80s when it became "ex council". This included removal of a wall and a chimney breast downstairs - the chimney was still there in the room above. Has this been supported by RSJs? No idea, I never felt inclined to find out but the home buyers survey my buyer got didn't even note any internal alterations.

kinger101

Unfortunately, they often are full of the bleeding obvious, and in my opinion the profession does need an overhaul. The last one I had done missed a leaking roof, but it wasn't worth the hassle of taking action against them.

I expect if there's nothing much wrong with the house, you'll be disappointed by the fact it's full of bland statements which could have been written before the house was even visited. They might however spot something major, which would make you withdraw from the sale, of be able to negotiate the price down.

At the very least, I'd get a homebuyer's report.